The Echo of Distorted Truths

Did that really happen? I wondered…

Was this a shared experience? I questioned…

Have I been gullible? I suspected…

Was this truly reality? I doubted...

And there it arises — when you thought there was nothing left to see, and you were brimming with confidence; there it comes. And when you believed you have reached the zenith, feeling like you can conquer the world; there it comes. And when you were certain all your decisions were made based on the strong, opinionated, and indestructible "you" — or at least the "you" you thought you were — there it comes — distorted information, or what we call parainformation (from the Greek "para" meaning beside; and "information" meaning knowledge), regardless of the perpetrator's intentions (mis- or dis-information), the source it came from, or the impact it had on others. Now, you have built your life on a lie! You have made decisions — decisions that shaped your life, your profession, your relationships, your workouts, your business, your friendships; and most importantly, your "inner you" — the one you can't deceive, the one that will remain stuck with forever, and the one that never forgives.

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think." — Buddha

Strongly opinionated? About politics? Maybe history? Probably the media? Certainly about race and culture? Undoubtedly about science? Without question about religion? Still so sure of your opinions? I beg you — think again! Are these truly your beliefs, or have you lived in a society that fed you selective knowledge for a predetermined outcome? I hesitate to say it — I hesitate to express it — but I do not hesitate to think. And I think carefully; What do I believe? What do I tolerate? And what do I reject? We are shaped by our thoughts, and our thoughts are shaped by what we read, hear, see, and experience. So, what am I? Am I even real, or do I just think I am — to comfort myself, to suppress the deeper questions? Questions that, if answered, might reveal everything. Answers that could solve the puzzle of my existence. Answers I need before the end. Answers I deserve — here and now!

"The mind is a kind of theater, where several perceptions successively make their appearance." – David Hume

"Don’t be a parrot" my brilliant mom said long ago while I was struggling through a history book for a school exam. Her words stuck with me. "Don’t be a parrot; you need to think critically, navigate your thoughts, and find your own way" she continued. How could I have understood what she meant at that time? I was only ten. Parrots repeat what they hear with astonishing precision — that is their skill. They mimic words and sounds flawlessly, with exceptional accuracy, over and over again. People are amused, entertained, even fascinated by them. But for how long? How long can repetition without meaning hold anyone’s attention? What happens when there is nothing else to offer? Then it clicked. I felt it. She meant that I should not just repeat what I hear or read. I always need to make sure I understand it, assess it, and remember it. That is how you grow — how you develop critical thinking and the ability to judge when necessary. Do not let anyone feed you only what they want you to know. Pick and evaluate what truly fits you — not what fits others. "Don’t be a parrot, my child. You have the foundation to be who you want to be — not what others tell you to be"; and she was right all along — since the very beginning!

"Truth is a thing of this world: it is produced only by virtue of multiple forms of constraint." — Michel Foucault

Do you remember how sure you were? Do you recall the last time you argued with the guy who told you about religion? Do you remember when you discussed science with that colleague of yours and tried to convince her otherwise? Or when you talked about politics and were absolutely certain — absolutely sure — that you were right and no one could change your mind? As Foucault argued, what we accept as "truth" is shaped by education, discourse, authorities around us, culture, and the information we are exposed to. So, do you still believe that you have a valid opinion? Is it truly you who decides, or have you mastered your “inner filter” to process information correctly? I wish it were that simple. I wish all we needed to do was speak, believe, and act... but it’s not. It takes time. For some, they may never reach that point. They may never see the truth or decide for themselves. They might never perceive reality as it truly is, but will always base their decisions on the constant wave of information they receive, rather than on unbiased and factual knowledge. For those few who manage to cross to the other side and see reality as it really is — those who break through the barrier — for those fortunate few, I envy you. I envy your resilience and your willingness to embrace what is real. I envy you, and I admire you!

"I know that I know nothing." — Socrates

What just happened, and why did I write that? Who told me to do that? Are the words I’m writing truly mine, or am I just “parroting”? Have I genuinely developed the critical thinking my mom suggested, or have I deceived myself into believing I already possess it? “You think you know, but you know nothing” I told myself. That realization might be the first step in understanding that it is not me writing this, but rather the culmination of all my experiences, insecurities, fears, love, wishful thinking — everything I have ever heard, read, lived, or wished I had lived. Sometimes it is hard to admit, difficult to grasp what led to a particular decision, to understand what others believe, or to comprehend why everything seems to be moving in a direction you do not want to follow — a direction that one is not even comfortable with. But as long as you embrace the reality that "you know that you know nothing" you possess the foundation upon which you can truly thrive!

“Censorship no longer works by hiding information from you; censorship works by flooding you with immense amounts of misinformation, of irrelevant information, of funny cat videos, until you're just unable to focus” — Yuval Noah Harari

Can you guess what happens when the human mind becomes overloaded? Mmmm… it simply stops working properly! But do I believe the mind is unique? In a way, yes. However, any system that gets overloaded ceases to function properly. And now, let’s let the parainformation slip in. Can you identify the false piece in a “shaky” pool of information? Some can, but most of us — myself included — “choke” under overloading. The human mind is primarily focused on survival — its job is not to impress other intellectuals; it’s to keep you alive! Then it isolates essential information and guides you down the path of least risk. However, this creates an optimal opportunity for clever parainformers — who unfortunately often are disinformers — to subtly introduce their narratives into the vast, deep pool of information; especially, but not exclusively, through traditional and social media. And chances are, you're thinking, "I only have a profile on a few platforms, how could that hurt?" But by asking that, you are already in the pool and you don’t even know it!

“The point of modern propaganda isn't only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking, to annihilate truth.” ― Garry Kasparov

So, parainformation in politics? Absolutely. Racism? Without a doubt. Cultural hatred? Undeniably. Science? Definitely. Feminism? No question. Gender differences? Start paying attention. Religion and theism? Say no more! These are just a few of the controversial topics people love to take offense at, as if they are trying to fill their lives with meaning, while failing to find any of their own. How can you discuss another culture when you have never ventured beyond your city’s borders? How can you talk about someone else’s religion when you have already been indoctrinated by your own "savior's" faith? How can you speak on feminism and gender differences when you have never fought for anyone’s rights? How can you criticize someone else’s color when you do not even understand your own? How can you recommend scientific remedies when you’ve never dared to study science? How can you get offended by political movements when you’ve never studied history or taken the time to understand the complex social, economic, and cultural factors that shape them? But it doesn’t matter, right? It is always easier to disinform someone or simply “parrot” someone else’s fairytale than to take the time to be responsible. I can’t blame you; there are only a few unique individuals who truly can!

How do I fight misinformation? How do I know what's true or false? How do I stop it? There are ways, but it always depends on willingness, as with any issue. How do I combat parainformation when the world is flooded with it? Mark Twain, through the character of Huck Finn, once said “Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth”; is it really that simple? I would hesitate to agree, though it works on a small scale. Combatting parainformation is tough because its core purpose is profit; and who denies profit? Only the wise ones!

You ask; “What should I do?”; Always verify your sources! It’s important to fact-check, even if it is from a friend or relative — you will be happier for it. Promote media literacy, investigate sources, and evaluate validity. Fact-check claims and report misleading content, holding platforms accountable. You might ask now, “Will this solve the problem? Will it fix everything?” Probably not! Parainformation has always existed, and it always will. But I am confident it can pave the way for a brighter future and an audience capable of critical thinking. The only thing left to do is try!

Did I dream of it? I wondered…

Was this a lie? I questioned…

Have I been deceived? I suspected…

Did I fall for an illusion? I doubted...